HANOVER, MD (September 05, 2014) – As part of the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s Cycle Maryland Initiative, Governor Martin O’Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown today announced $2.3 million in Bikeways Program Grants to fund 23 projects in six counties and 8 municipalities. The Maryland Bikeways Program, which is administered by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), supports the design and construction of projects that create and improve bicycle connections in Maryland to key destinations, like work, school and shopping.

“Establishing a modern transportation system is more than building roadways, runways and railways — it means investing in projects that support alternative forms of travel like bicycling,” said Governor O’Malley. “These grants will help local jurisdictions grow and enhance their bicycle networks, a core component of our ongoing efforts to reduce both traffic congestion and Maryland’s greenhouse gas emission by 25 percent by 2020.”

“With this $2.3 million investment, we’re making it easier and safer for Marylanders to use bicycles to get to work, school, and local businesses,” said Lt. Governor Anthony Brown. “These grants will ensure that in communities from Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore, we’re continuing our efforts to make bicycling a safe, healthy, and affordable transportation option for more Marylanders.”

A complete list of grant-funded projects can be found here. Some of the projects include:

Howard County’s North Laurel connection project: $40,000 to design trail and on-road extension of the Patuxent Branch trail to the North Laurel community.

Since announcing the Maryland Bikeways Program in 2011, the O’Malley-Brown Administration has invested $12.25 million in Bikeways Program grants to help fund 97 projects across Maryland. MDOT’s draft six-year capital budget (FY 2015 – FY 2020) includes nearly $200 million for bicycle and pedestrian-related projects, including more than $15 million for the Bikeways Program.

“The O’Malley-Brown Administration has consistently supported our efforts to build a modern, interconnected transportation system that includes enhancing and expanding Maryland’s bicycle network,” said Transportation Secretary James T. Smith, Jr.

The Maryland Department of Transportation adopted an updated Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan in January 2014. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan establishes a 20-year vision to support cycling and walking as modes of transportation in Maryland. Learn more at www.mdot.maryland.gov/BikeWalkPlan.

Governor O’Malley launched his Cycle Maryland Initiative to consolidate and coordinate bicycle programs in Maryland in an effort to make bicycling a true transportation alternative. For more information on Cycle Maryland efforts and great bicycling resources, please visit us on our website at www.cycle.maryland.gov, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cyclemaryland and follow us on Twitter @CycleMaryland.